THIS match will not alter the destination of the SPL title but Motherwell served up an engrossing and compelling display that justified James McFadden's decision to join the Lanarkshire club.

Chris Humphrey celebrates giving Motherwell the lead at home to Celtic. (Photo: Sammy Turner/SNS Group)

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IN the end it will count for nothing. Not where Celtic’s season is concerned at any rate.

Neil Lennon and his players have long since disappeared out of sight on their way to a second successive title.

But if this, ahem, top-of-the-table clash at Fir Park was meant to be just another meaningless, mind-numbing stop-off on the champions’ long and predictable passage, someone forgot to spread the word to deepest darkest Lanarkshire.

Because what was served up under these dim, yellow-tinged lights was as engrossing and compelling as anything the SPL can have seen all season.

It started with an opening goal from Chris Humphrey, included an equaliser from Georgios Samaras at the start of the second half and ended with a thumping winner off Michael Higdon’s right boot.

In between, it featured glimpses of James McFadden’s yesteryears and moments of fury from Neil Lennon, the likes of which have also not been seen for a while.

And, when it was done, Motherwell celebrated as if they had just clinched the title itself, rather then simply enhancing their chances of nailing down second place.

Yes, if this is what to expect from meaningless matches then perhaps McFadden has ended up in the right place at the right time.

Lennon sprinkled the changes around but, even so, there was a powerful and fairly formidable look to his side.

Victor Wanyama slotted in at centre back but that allowed Beram Kayal and young Aussie Thomas Rogic to couple up in midfield. There were also places for Kris Commons, James Forrest, Samaras and Anthony Stokes in an attack of considerable menace.

That said, the presence of another forward thinker, Motherwell’s returning talisman McFadden, gave cause for even greater intrigue.

Finally, after a couple of cameo roles from the bench, McFadden had been handed the chance to star once more under the floodlights of his old stage.

The world was about to be given a chance to judge what he has left in the tank, at the relatively tender age of 29.

It is his aim to prove his career – which has often been a truly glittering one – has not ground to a halt for good. That it has merely stalled for a bit. And McFadden looked desperate to get the motor up and running again in the early stages as Stuart McCall’s men set a lively early pace, pushing Celtic back and even forcing a couple of comfortable saves from Fraser Forster.

But it was not long before the champions responded by increasing their own levels of urgency.

Stokes should probably have fired them in front when he was picked out by a Forrest cross but the Irishman made a hash of his attempted volley. Commons also rifled one into the advertising boards from a free-kick as Celtic started to flex some muscle, knocking Motherwell out of their early stride.

Even McFadden looked hurried and harassed to such an extent that, facing towards his own goal, he smashed a clearance into Nicky Law’s private chambers with eye-watering force.

Then, at the other end, he shanked an attempted cross clear over Forster’s goal, much to the amusement of the Celtic fans into whose section it had sailed. But McFadden was not alone in searching for form. Samaras was also returning to action for the first time in a while, which would have been good had the Greek not brought someone else’s feet with him. He was cumbersome and clumsy and giving off the lethargic vibes of a man who would rather have been sat at home on the couch resting. Along with his own two feet.

In fact, only Commons and Forrest looked like causing Motherwell any first-half harm and even they were operating someway short of their best.

As this malaise set in, Motherwell sprung up field to land a thumping, unexpected counter punch on the chin of Lennon’s champs. After 31 minutes the excellent Law advanced to the edge of Celtic’s area before turning Wanyama inside and out and driving the ball across goal. Forster could only glance across to his left to see Humphrey arriving in a blur at his back post to send the ball into the roof of his net.

And so an increasingly agitated Celtic – none more so than Kayal who was booked for taking his frustrations out on Henrik Ojamaa – headed inside at the break a goal down to meet up with a manager who was himself beginning to fray around the edges.

When they returned they found McFadden had rediscovered some of his old swagger. Within minutes he was teasing Celtic’s defence on the left and showing the first real flashes of his former, slippery, mischievous self. For his part, Lennon had shuffled his pack into a 4-4-2 formation with Commons and Forrest running the flanks and Stokes and Samaras linking up.

But it soon became clear something more radical would be required to liven Celtic up and so, less than 10 minutes in, Rogic was replaced by Joe Ledley.

But all the time, McFadden’s chest was beginning to puff out just that little bit more. He was starting to enjoy himself even if he nearly blew a gasket when attempting to charge back and cover a lightening counter-attack which saw Commons round Darren Randolph but run out of grass before he could shoot.

Lennon then made a second change, replacing Kayal with Efe Ambrose – a move which allowed Wanyama to push forward. Almost instantly, Celtic clicked into gear to level the match. It was a move started by Stokes and finished by Samaras – two players who could have been told to make way by their manager given the standard of their first-half displays.

Michael Higdon is all smiles after scoring the winner for Motherwell at home to Celtic. (Photo: Sammy Turner/SNS Group)

But this time they got it just right with Stokes’ pass cutting Motherwell open and then Samaras arriving at the front post to head home Forrest’s cross.

It wasn’t long before a mistake at the other end cost Lennon’s side the game, though, with Ambrose heading off the back of Adam Matthews to gift the ball to Well. Law then turned the Celtic sub inside-out and sent over a superb cross that Higdon volleyed home.